Automatcally operated cutting wheel for opening envelopes



Oct. 27, I953 KAPLAN 2,656,889

8. B. AUTOMATICALLY OPERATED CUTTING WHEEL FOR OPENING ENVELOPES FiledOct. '7, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l l, a F24 2 a? 4 Z ,8 HQ 1 a RF 9 r J 7:KZE 3 o 2 /s :5 7 4 i Z3 INVENTOR. I BENJAMIN B.KAPLAN 2f BY Had 02%(Ram A 'r' TOR/\IE vs Oct. 27, 1953 a. B. KAPLAN ,8 AUTOMATICALLYOPERATED CUTTING WHEEL FOR OPENING ENVELOPES Filed 001;. 7, 1949 2Sheets-Sheet 2 W m v W HM INVENTOR. BENJAM/N B. KAPLA/V ATTORNEYSPatented Oct. 27, 1953 AUTOMATICALLY OPERATED CUTTING WHE FOB ,Q NVEL ESBenjamin B. Kaplan, to Industrial Molded Minn., a corporation 2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in envelopeopeners and more particularly to power operated openers. I.

An'important objectoi the presentinvention isto provide a simple andinexpensive machine for fopening envelopes, which is small and compactwhereby it may readily be placed upon a desk ortable in a place ofbusiness to facilitate the usual laborious task of opening numerousletters each day.

A further and more specific object ofthe invention is to providean'envelope opener comprising a pair of coacting cutting elementsdisposed adjacent to a suitable guide'for guiding the envelopes intoengagement with the cutters, and said cutters having a motoroperativelyconnected thereto and provided with an electric circuit having a controlswitch therein adapted to be actuated by movement of each envelope fedthrough the machine, wherebythe operation of the machine isautomatically controlled by the movement of the envelopes therethrough.

A further object is to provide an envelope opening machine comprisingasupport over which the envelopes are fed into engagement with a cuttingmechanism, and the cutting mechanism being supported on a suitable framemountedfor limited sliding adjustment with respect to the path of travelof the envelopes,*whereby the width of the edge or strip severed fromeach, envelopemay be varied as may be desired;

1 A further object is to provide a small compact power driven envelopeopener adapted for office or business use, which is extremely efficientand positive in operation, and is designed to operate only when anenvelope or otherarticle is moved into engagement with its cuttingelements, whereby the starting and stopping of the machine is entirelyautomatic. V Other objects of the invention reside in the uniquemounting of the cutting elements whereby they are self sharpening andare always retained in cutting engagement with each other; in the simplemeans provided for laterally adjusting the cutters with respect to thepath of tra'velof the envelopes; in the automatic control means .for thecutter, whereby the operation of the machine is controlled entirely bythe passage of envelopes therethrough; inthe arrangement of the cutterswhereby they are completely shielded for the protection of the operatorsfingers; and'in theprovision of means for'absorbing vibration to renderthe machine substantially noiseless in operation.

These. and other objects oitheuinventionu'and St. Paul, Minn., assignorProducts Co. Inc., St. Paul,

of Minnesota Application ctober7, 1949, Serial No."120,021

the means for, their attainment will be more apparent from-thefollowingdescription taken i n connection with the accompanying drawings:

In'the accompanying drawings there has been disclosed a structuredesigned to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it istorbe understood that the invention is not confined to the exactfeatures shown, as ,various changes may be made within the scope of theclaims which follow. 1 I

In the drawings: l 1

Figure 1 is a perspective view of) the novel envelope opener hereindisclosed showing an envelope about to be fed to the cutters;

Figure 2 i a longitudinal sectional view substantially on the line 2-2of Figure 1, showing the control element adapted to be actuated by eachenvelope passing through the machine, thereby to automatically controlthe starting-and stopping of the cutters; V

Figure 3 is a view looking at the receiving end of the machine; i i

Figure 4 is a plan view of Figure 3; and t Figure 5 is a sectional planview on theline 5-5 of Figure 3. l

The novel envelope opener herein disclosed is shown comprising abasep1ate2 provided, with suitablerubber feet or buttons 3, whereby it maybe placed upon a desk or table without danger of marring the surfacethereof. The base plate 2 constitutes the main support for the workingparts of the machine and for the sake of economy may be constructed ofcast metal a An upright wall portion, generally designated by thenumeral 4 is provided on one sideof the base and has an upper horizontalflange 5 from which'rises a vertical envelope guide 6, shown integrallyformedtherewith. The flange 5 also provides a support for one side of aplate -1 which forms a table or support over which the envelopes are fedwith one edge engaged with the guide 6. The plate 1 has a depending wallportion 8 terminating in a horizontal flange 9 at its bottom to whichrubber buttons or feet 3 are securedas shown in Figure 3. The plate 1 isshown detach,- ably secured to the flange 5 by suitable screws I l-l l.The upright wall 4 of the base may be reinforced by diagonal wallportions [2 and I3, shown in Figures 3 and 4. l u An important featureof the present invention resides in thenovel construction and mountingof the cutter mechanism. which comprises a minimum of moving .parts andall such parts being carried by aframe, generally designated by thenumeral [4. The frame 14, as herein shown, is

box-like in shape, but obviously itmay be otherwise formed withoutdeparting from the scope of the claims. The bottom wall I5 of the framei4 is movably mounted upon and between suitable guides i6 and H which,for the sake of economy, may be integrally formed with the base plate 2.A piece of sheet rubber, designated by the numeral |5, is showninterposed between the guides l5 and I? and the bottom wall l5 of theframe l4, and is sufficiently guides and the frame it frame It in itsadjusted postion. A bolt I9 is received in aligned apertures 2| and 22provided respectively in the base plate Zand bottom wall |5 of the frameM in position between the guides The aperture frame is is maderelatively larger than the aperture 2| in the base plate Figure 3,thereby to allow freedom of movement of the frame in its guideswithout'interference from the screw It. A pair of relatively largemetallic washers 23, shown square in configuration, may, if desired, beinterposed between the nut 24 of the bolt is and the bottomwall l5 ofthe frame M. The nut 24 is preferably of the lock type, whereby it willretain its adjusted posi tion upon the bolt without danger of shifting,as a result of vibration of the machine. A suitable resilient washer 25,preferably of rubber, is interposed between the metallic washers 23 andcooperates with the sheet rubber member |8- to absorb vibration and torender the machine practically noiseless in operation.

The cutting means is shown comprising a pair of cutting elements 25 and21 mounted, respectively, on shafts 28 and 29, rotatably supported insuitable bearings provided in the upright walls 3| and 32 of the frameM. The upper cutting element 25 is preferably in the form of a rollerhaving a square cutting edge 33 which cooperates with the sharpened edgeof the lower cutting element 27 to effect the cutting of the envelopes,as will subsequently be described. The lower cutting element 2| ispreferably in the form of a disk having a knife edge which overlaps aportion of the front face of the cutting element or roller 25 to assurea clean cut of the paper, when an envelope is fed along the guide 5between the cutting elements.

The cutting elements 25 and 27 are simultaneously driven in oppositedirections,- when the machine is in operation, and the means providedfor thus driving said elements is shown comprising a small motor 34which may be mounted directly upon the back wall 35 of the frame l4 andsecured thereto by suitable screws 36 and 31, as best shown in Figure 3.The usual hub 38 of the motor housing and the drive end of the motorshaft 39, are shown received in an enlarged aperture 4| provided in theback wall 35 of the frame M. A worm 42 is secured to the motor shaft 35and intermeshes with worm gears 43 and 45 secured respectively to theshafts 28 and 29 of the cutter elements 25 and 21. Thus, when the motoris operating, a rotary movement is simultaneously imparted to thecutting shafts 28 and 29, as will be understood by reference to Figure3.

Means is provided for rendering the cutting elements 25 and 21,self-sharpening, and is shown comprising a spring 20 coiled about therear end portion of the shaft 29 of the lower cutter 27. One end of thespring engages the adjacent wall 32 of the frame 14, and its other [6and'i'l'.

compressed between the to frictionally retain the i4, and serves tosecure the'frame 22 in the bottomwall' l5- of the- 2, as indicated inend a collar 30 secured to the projecting end of the shaft 23, as bestshown in Figures 3 and 4. The spring 20 thus constantly tends to movethe shaft in a rearward direction, whereby the cutting edge of the disk21 is automatically retained in self-sharpening, cutting engagement withits complemental cutting element 25, as willreadily be understood.

The means provided for varying the strip or edge out from each envelopeis shown comprising a stub shaft 45 having a threaded end portion 46received in threaded engagement with the wall 32 of the frame l4. Theopposite end of the shaft 45'is supported in a bearing 41provided-onthe'base plate 2. A knurled finger knob 48is secured-to theouter end of the shaft 45, and a collar 49 is shown secured to saidshaft at the inner side of the bearing 47, whereby the hub of the fingerknob 48 and the collar d9 cooperate to prevent axial movement of theshaft 45 relative to the base plate2.

By referring to Figure 3, it will be noted that because of the shaft 45being restrained against axial movement when rotated, the threadedterminal 46 thereof will cause the frame M to be relatively moved in itsguides, whereby the cutters 25 and 2-! are correspondingly adjusted withrespect to the guide flange 6-, thereby to vary the width of the stripcut from each envelope.

Another feature of the invention resides in the means provided forautomatically controlling the operation of the motor each time anenvelope is fed along the guide 6 over the feed table To thus controlthe operation of the motor, a small control element or feeler, generallydesignated' by the numeral 5|, is pendently supported over the path oftravel of the envelopes with its lower end positioned beneath the topsurface of the feed table I, whereby the feeler 5| is engaged by eachenvelope fed over the table and swung forwardly to the dotted lineposition shown at A in Figure 2.

The feeler 5| may, for the sake of economy, be made from a piece of wirebent to form a shaft 52 having a loop 53 formed therein adapted toengage the wall 3| of the frame l4, thereby to prevent axial movement ofthe shaft 52 in one direction. A hub 54 is secured to the opposite endof the wire shaft 52 and engages the wall 32 and thus prevents axialmovement of the shaft 52 in the opposite direction. A plate 55 issuitably secured to the hub 54 of the shaft, as by welding, and has anaperture therein in which is mounted a mercury switch 55, ofconventional construction. A rubber sleeve 57 is mounted in the aperturein the plate 55 into which the bulb of the mercury switch 56 isinserted, and whereby the switch bulb is frictionally supported in theplate 55 in insulated relation thereto.

By reference to Figure 3, it will be noted that the center of the plate55 is laterally offset from the axis of the shaft 54 in a downwarddirection, whereby the lower portion of the plate acts as a weight toretain the mercury switch in its circuit opening position. Thus when themachine is at rest, the plate 55 will be supported as shown in Figure 3,whereby the usual contacts of the mercury switch are in circuit-openingposition, and the feeler 5| is supported in the path of the envelopes,as shown in full lines in Figure 2.

The mercury switch controls the supply of current to the motor 34, andis interconnected in an electric circuit comprising conductors 58 and 53each having one end connected to terminals Bland 62, respectivelymounted in a terminal block, generally designated by the numeral 63. Awire 64 has one end electrically connectedto the terminal Sly anditsopposite end to one of thecontacts of themercury switch 56. A secondwire 65 leads from the other contact of the mercury switch to a terminal66 which is in electrical connection with a wire 67 leading to one sideof the usual winding of the motor. A second wire 68 leads from the otherside of the motor winding to the terminal block 62 and is electricallyconnected to the wire 59, thereby completing the circuit to the motor.

A suitable housing, generally designated by the numeral 69, is adaptedto be fitted over all of the working parts of the machine and has threeupright walls, the edge portions of which are detachably secured to thebase plate 2 by suitable screws, not shown. An opening is provided inthe front side of the housing whereby the upper portion of the housingmaybe extended over the cutters, thereby to serve asa guard to shieldthe cutters and prevent the operators fingers from accidently engaginthe cutters when the machine is in operation.

The space H between the table top 1 and the bottom edge 12 of the frontWall 13 of the housing is less than the normal diameter of a finger,whereby an operator is not likely to insert a finger under the housinginto contact with the cutters.

In the operation of the novel machine herein disclosed, the motor isconnected to a conventional lighting circuit or the like by a suitableplug-in cord forming a continuation of the conductors 58 and 59, wherebythe machine is made ready for use. The envelopes to be opened are thensuccessively passed over the table 1 with one edge engaged with theupright guide flange 6, as indicated in Figure 1, whereby the edge ofthe envelope engaged with the guide 6 is severed from the body of theenvelope thereby to open the envelope along the full length of its body.The portion of the table 1 in advance of the cutting elements or wheels26 and 21 constitutes an envelope feeding zone. An envelope cutting zoneis provided in the table I by an opening 14 in which the cuttin wheels26 and 21 are disposed.

The narrow edge trimmed from the envelope is directed downwardly throughthe opening 14 in the table top 1, as indicated by the arrow 15 inFigure 2, whereby such waste may be delivered into a suitable receivingmeans or directly onto the top of the table upon which the machine issupported.

The machine is self supporting and complete in construction, and whenthe current supply cord (conductors 58 and 59) of the motor is pluggedinto the receptacle of an electric supply circuit, the machine is alwaysready for immediate use. The compactness and lightness of the machinemake it possible to readily and conveniently shift it about from oneplace to another, whenever desired, which is a desirable feature in anapparatus of this general type. Should it be found advisable to vary thewidth of the strip severed from the envelope, the operator simplyrotates the finger knob 48 in one direction or the other, depending uponthe width desired. Such rotation of the finger knob 48 shifts the frameM in its guides I6 and I! in a direction towards or away from the feedtable 1, because of its threaded connection with the shaft 45.

In actual operation, it has been found that tionof the various parts ofthe apparatus, the cutting edges of the cutters may, if desired, bepositioned to sever only the bare edge from each envelope. In actualuse, however, the cutters are preferably positioned to sever a strip onesixteenth inch wide, which is sufiicient to allow for slightirregularities in the feedingof the envelopes through the machine.

The upright wall portion 4 of the base plate 2 is shown formed with anauxiliary housing 40 disposed to conceal the lower cutting element 21under the table 1. One end of the auxiliary housing w is open, and saidopening is defined by an upright inwardlyinclined deflecting flange 50,as

best indicated in dotted'lines in Figure 4, and full lines in Figure 5.The edge of the flange 50 is s aced outwardly from the wall 4 to providean opening through which the severed strips from theenvelopes are direced, as indicated by the arrow 15inFigure 5. h -The sheet rubbermember-I8 interposed""be"- 6 and I1 and the lower portween the guides 1tion of the frame in conjunction with the is extremely quiet inoperation.

Another feature of the invention resides in the formation of thecutters, whereby the upper cutting element 26 in addition to cooperatingwith the lower disk-like cutter 21 to sever an edge from each envelope,also serve to automatically feed each envelope through the machine, themoment the envelope has been moved into cutting engagement with thecutters.

The construction of the machine as a whole is very simple andinexpensive, all of the parts being so designed that they readily lendthemselves to manufacture in mass production on conventional machinery,whereby the cost of pro ducing the machine in quantity production may becomparatively low, relative to the cost of such machines now on themarket.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness ofunderstanding only, and

construed as broadly the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an envelope opening machine, a base plate including a cutting zoneand an envelope between said cutting wheels, said downwardly extendingportion of said control member being movable from said downwardlyextending position ahead of said cutting wheels to a position whereinsaid portion is raised slightly above the juncture of said cuttingwheels in response to the movement of an envelope through said cuttingzone to actuate said motor starting means, said because of the uniqueconstruction and orientadownwardly extending portion of said control meer be n ma n ined, i s i w rm d position during the passage of anenvelope through said cutting zone.

2. In an envelope opening machine, a base plate including a cutting zoneand an envelope feeding zone, co-acting cutting wheels positioned onsaid base plate in said cutting zone, means for driving said cuttingwheels comprising an electric motor, a control rod mounted transverselyof said base plate, motor starting means mounted on said transversecontrol rod, a rocker control arm depending from said transverse controlrod, said rocker arm being normally positioned ahead of said cuttingwheels and extending toward said envelope feeding zone, said rocker armbeing movable in response to the movement of an envelope through saidcutting zone from a substantially vertical and downwardly dependingposition to a second position wherein said rocker arm is slightly abovethe juncture of said cutting wheels to actuate said motor startingmeans, said rocker arm being maintained in said second named posi-BENJAMIN B. KAPLAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberNumber I Name Date Andrews Mar. 25, 1902 Pringle July 27, 1920 DeckSept. 29, 1931 Keiser Dec. 29, 1931 Moore Feb. 27, 1934 Ryan Jan. 25,1938 Rosenberg Jan. 9, 1940 Ward Aug. 19, 1941 Peterson Apr. 2'7, 1943Casagrande Mar. 2, 1950 Seidman Aug. 15, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS CountryDate Great Britain Mar. 19, 1908

